The Emperor now needs a knife. This knife must be new, sharp, and different from a civil official. Most importantly, it must be capable, preferably young and vigorous, and without any connections in the capital.

Huo Xiaolong is the only suitable candidate right now.

So what if she's engaged to Lan Tingche?

Lan Tingche was merely a Marquis of the Southwest, his influence far beyond his immediate surroundings.

Yuwen Xuanhong wanted to let the aristocratic families know that even if they had a foundation of hundreds of years, what difference did it make?

As long as the imperial power is displeased, you are nothing more than ants in my hand.

Private soldiers and retainers, no matter how many, can they outnumber the Prince of Zhenbei?

"The Kyoto Echizen family is gone."

Outside the Yue Clan Ancestral Hall, there was a large crowd.

Someone was crying, and Huo Xiaolong noticed it immediately.

"Go ask that person why they are crying."

The little grass with blood on its knife walked forward, wiping the bloodstains off with its arm holding the knife.

The weeping woman was pulled to a corner and began to recount her past in a low, tearful voice.

The girl in the python robe had a cold and stern look in her eyes.

Of course, some people resisted, but they couldn't overpower her.

"The Yue family wields such power in the capital that the Prince of Zhenbei can come and confiscate their property so easily!"

"Didn't you hear? It's the Emperor's decree."

"They only manage to maintain a facade of civility; only they know how many dirty things they do in private."

Boxes of gold and silver jewelry were moved out of the mansion, and the boxes were filled with calligraphy and paintings.

Of course, all those breathtaking gold and silver jewels were put into his spatial storage by Huo Xiaolong with a wave of his hand.

That night, Xiaocao returned to report.

Her face was still flushed, and the woman held onto her tightly, especially when she was behind the Prince of Zhenbei.

“I don’t know if the Prince of Zhenbei will be like the Yue family, but she… she helped me avenge myself, so she is my benefactor.”

"Would you like Guard Li to stay for a meal at my place?"

Long'er listened to the little grass in front of him muttering to itself that the girl was of average appearance, the kind of girl you wouldn't recognize in a crowd.

But her spirit and perseverance are beyond the reach of ordinary people.

That's why the grass can stay by your side.

"Tomorrow I'll go to the Sifang Casino to find Uncle Scarface and ask him to help me find out who the Yue family's victims have been over the years, compile the account books, and send them over."

Xiao Cao never questioned the prince's orders; sometimes she would offer advice, but only once.

"You still can't get over it?"

On the table in front of Long'er were the incriminating evidence that various powerful families could find.

That's all the information I could find.

The fact that they allow investigations means they are not afraid and have someone behind them who can handle things.

What can't be found?

How many people have died because of power?

Lan Tingche brought the chicken soup to Huo Xiaolong. His fox-like eyes were even more alluring in the lamplight. The girl looked up at him, feeling a little uncomfortable.

Power has always been a privilege, and it will always be so.

What she couldn't change in her past life, she can't change in this one either.

Even if this shareholding is gone, there will be another one.

"Long'er, just do your best. You are human, not a god. They will be afraid when you are around, but what about when you are gone?"

"Don't take on everything yourself. Birth, aging, sickness and death are predetermined. You have already done a great job."

The man reached out and pulled the girl into his arms.

He felt his arms tighten around his waist and abdomen, and he could vaguely hear Long'er crying.

On the table in front of them was written: "When the Yue family built the mountain villa, they selected ten pairs of boys and girls as human sacrifices and buried them underground to bless this place with good weather and prevent thieves from invading."

When they arrived in the capital that day, they passed through a small village where many children were playing at the entrance.

One of the children looked at the tall horse with some curiosity, but dared not go forward because of their large number.

Huo Xiaolong sent Xiaocao over to take him for a few rides.

"Sister, riding horses is so much fun!"

"If you work hard in the future, you can stand behind that older sister and ride a tall horse too," Xiaocao said, pointing to Long'er's carriage.

"real?"

"real."

"Then I'll be her bodyguard from now on!"

Upon hearing this, Huo Xiaolong lifted the curtain and said to him with a beaming smile.

"Then you must work hard, whether it's literature, martial arts, or something else, as long as you are proficient in one thing."

That day, the child's face was sparkling.

His eyes were full of anticipation for the future.

People are just saying it. So what if he doesn't amount to anything in the future?

A single meeting in life becomes a memory.

However, less than half a month later...

Xiaocao delivered the evidence of the Yue family's crimes to her with a sob in her voice.

"What's wrong?" Long'er asked.

"Does Your Highness still remember... that day when we went to the capital, the little boy I brought on horseback?"

Huo Xiaolong nodded.

"I remember, so what?"

"Before he left, I left him a sign that said he could come to my residence to visit me..."

“His mother came to me; the child had been kidnapped.”

"By the time I found it, it had already been buried alive for three days..."

"It's being used as a foundation pile..."

The little grass cried uncontrollably.

Huo Xiaolong tried to process what had happened, and slowly sat down in a chair. His breathing was audible, and the girl trembled slightly as she inhaled.

My encounter with that child was purely by chance.

He can be born, grow old, get sick, and die.

But...

It was precisely this kind of death.

She just can't stand people treating human life so lightly!

She just couldn't stand those lucky people who were high and mighty and could decide life and death at will!

“Give his mother some silver and tell her that I will avenge her son.”

If the emperor wants him to be his tool, then the other way around is not impossible.

The Yue family was destroyed, and all the Prince of Zhenbei wanted to do was have a good cry.

Let's cry for those lives that haven't had a chance to properly look at the future.

Through this incident, the Prince of Zhenbei gained widespread recognition among the various prominent families in the capital.

I heard that all those who threatened her during the raid on her home are dead.

I've also heard that she's now the emperor's most favored minister.

"He's just a bastard who grew up in a brothel. He thinks he can be on equal footing with us just because he's using the Emperor's influence?"

Inside the palace, a woman wearing hand armor gently touched her hair a couple of times and spoke to the man beside her.

The man beside her was probably around twenty years old, dressed in a brocade robe with dragon patterns, wearing a golden crown, with a cold look between his brows and deep eyes.

"Mother, you're at it again. Matters of the court cannot be judged by one's background. So what if she grew up in a brothel, or even if she was a prostitute?"

"In the struggle for power, only the winner and loser matter."

The woman glanced at him, sighed, and then said...

"I understand. If you can win her over, that would be great; at least she can help you more."

"Don't worry, Mother, I will find an opportunity to speak with her."

The Prince of Zhenbei has many women around him, of all ages, and he doesn't believe that not one of them is unmoved by power.

It's much easier to rise to prominence and become a phoenix than to build your own empire from scratch.